Oscillating propelling mechanism



May 5, 1964 c. D. TOWN OSCILLATING PROPELLING MECHANISM Filed May 17, 1963 INVENTOR.

craft through the air.

United States Patent 3,131,771 OSJILLATING PRGPELLING F/EE CHAIHSM Clinton 1). Ton. 5395 Bush St., Portland, Greg. Filed May 17, 1963, Ser. No. 281,117

3 Claims. 170-143) This invention relates to a novel propelling mechanism, and more particularly to propelling mechanism including" oscillating propeller blades that are actuated upon rotation of the mechanism to produce a thrust that may be used to propel a structure. In a particular embodiment of the invention, it is contemplated that the propelling mechanism be employed as the means for propelling an air- The propelling mechanism features propeller blades that oscillate between positions where a useful thrust is obtained by movement of the blades through the air, and positions where the blades move through the air relatively freely without producing such a thrust.

A general object of the invention, therefore, is to provide improved propelling mechanism featuring novel oscillating propeller blades that are shifted between thrust producing and free travel positions, on 360 rotation 'of the propelling mechanism.

More specifically, an object of the invention is to provide oscillating propelling mechanism, which comprises a rotatable mounting, and oscillating propeller blades circumferentially distributed about the rotation axis of this mounting, the propeller blades being pivotable and thus oscillating about axes extending perpendicular to the rotation axis of the mounting.

According to this invention, a rotatable propeller blade support is provided which is rotated under power to produce actuation of the propelling mechanism. Equally circumferentially spaced about the rotation axis of the blade support are plural propeller blades. Pivot means mounts each of the propeller blades on said propeller blade support, with the pivot means accommodating pivotal movement of the blade about an axis which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the propeller blade support. There is also provided means connected to the pivot means for each propeller blade that is operable to rotate the pivot means about an axis extending perpendicular to its pivot axis (or parallel to the rotation axis of the blade support). The pivot means rotates 360, for every 360 rotation of the propeller blade support, in a direction which is opposite to the direction of rotation of the blade support. Thus, the pivot axes for propelier blades, on rotation of the blade support, shift to different positions around the rotation axis of the support, with said positions all being substantially parallel to each other while remaining perpendicular to the rotation axis.

With the propeller blades pivotally mounted as described, centrifugal force and air resistance function during a portion of the movement of a propeller blade around the rotation axis of the blade support to shift the blade to a position where it catches air and produces a thrust. During the remaining portion of the movement of the propeller blade, centrifugal force and air resistance shift the blade to a position Where it moves relatively freely through the air.

Various objects, features, and advantages or" the invention will become apparent as the following description is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view of oscillating propelling mechanism according to one embodiment of the invention, showing plural pairs of propeller blades mounted on a rotatable blade support means, with the blades equally circumferentially spaced about the rotation axis of blade support means;

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FIG. 2 is a top view of the oscillating propelling mechanism illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the propelling mechanism in FIG. 1, viewing the mechanism from left to right in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is. a top view of propelling mechanism, corresponding to portions of FIG. 2, but showing another modification of the invention; and v FIG} 5' is -'a diagrammatic view, illustrating how cen-f.

trifugal force is a factor in producing oscillation of propeller blades in the mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings, and first of all more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, here propelling mechanism,generally indicated at It) is shown, supported between a pair of standards 12, 14 (which may be part of the frame or fuselage of an aircraft or other structure which is propelled through the air).

Propelling mechanism 10 comprises a pair of propeller blade supports 16, 18, mounted opposite one another and both secured to a tubular sleeve 29 or driving means adjacent its ends. Sleeve 20 is journaled on a shaft 22, having one end secured to the upper end of standard 12. The other end of shaft 22 is secured to a bar 25, which is secured to a stub shaft 23 (having a radially ofiset position with respect to shaft 22). Stub shaft 23 is fastened at an end to standard 14.

Propeller blade supports 16, 18 are shown as having arms, such as arms 16a, 16b, 16c, and 16d of blade support 16, that extend radially outwardly from shaft 22 and sleeve 29. Other structures could be used for the blade supports, however, such as opposed discs, wheels, etc.

Secured to one end of sleeve 29 is a pulley 24, over which is trained a drive belt 26. Drive belt 26 and pulley 24 constitute power operated means for rotating the sleeve and the blade supports about a rotation axis for the blade supports (the latter constituting the longitudinal axis of sleeve 20 and shaft 22) Spaced outwardly from the rotation axis for the blade supports, and equally circumferentially spaced about this rotation axis, are plural propeller blade means, indicated at 30, 32, 34, and 36, respectively. These are similar in construction, and only one is described in detail.

Thus, considering propeller blade means 39, it comprises a pair of fiat propeller blades 39a, 3015, each substantially rectangular in outline. The two blades are mounted on an elongated bar or mounting element 40, extending between a pair of complementary arms in propeller blade supports 16, 18.

Further describing the mounting for the blades in the propelling mechanism, interconnecting blades Sila, 30b, and mounting them whereby they are pivotable about an axis which is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the propeller blade supports, is a hinge or pivot means 42. Hinge means 42 interconnects adjacent edges of blades 3%, 30b. The hinge means in turn is secured to bar 40 or mounting element.

Spaced laterally to one side of propeller blade support 16 is an actuator 46. Actuator 46, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, has the same general shape as a blade support, and includes four arms indicated at 46a46d. The actuator is journaled on stub shaft 23, and thus is rotatable about an axis which is radially offset from the rotation axis of sleeve 22 and the blade supports.

Bar 40 has an arm 48 connected thereto, disposed on the outer side of blade support 16. The arm is fixed to bar 49, and an end of the arm is journaled in arm 46b of the actuator. Arm 46b and the actuator constitute means connected to hinge means 42 operable to rotate the hinge means about an axis extending perpendicular to the pivot axis aiforded by the hinge means, during actuation of the propelling mechanism.

In operating the oscillating propelling mechanism of the invention, the blade supports may be rotated in the direction shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. On 360 rotation of the blade supports, actuator 46 rotates hinge means 42 (and the hinge means for the other propeller means) in a manner whereby the pivot axis of the hinge means, in all positions of the hinge means, occupies parallel positions, while remaining perpendicular to the rotation axis of the blade supports. This results by reason of the fact that on 360 rotation of the propeller blade supports, bar 40 and the hinge means are also rotated 360, with the rotation of the bar (and the hinge means connected thereto) being in the opposite direction than the direction of rotation of the blade supports.

With the construction described, and as will be hereinafter explained, when the oscillating propelling mechanism is actuated, by rotating the blade supports as indicated, the various propeller blades on moving downwardly in FIG. 1 swing outwardly to horizontal, extended positions, with the blades in such a position functioning to push on the air which they encounter on their movement with the result that an upward thrust is exerted on the propelling mechanism as a whole. On moving from the bottom to the top of the propelling mechanism in FIG. 1, the blades fold together, and move relatively freely tluough the air. By this action, therefore, a continuous upward thrust is produced by the propelling mechanism.

Oscillating of the blades as described is the result of various factors. For one thing, on a pair of the blades moving downwardly, from the top of the drawing in FIG. 1, air tends to be thrust upwardly between the blades, with such air forcing the blades apart, whereby they are caused to swing out to a horizontal position. On movement of the blades from the bottom to the top of the mechanism in FIG. 1, the force of air on the blades exerts an opposite effect thereon, whereby the blades swing inwardly to their collapsed position.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, centrifugal force is also a factor in shifting the blades between extended and collapsed positions. Thus, with a pair of blades at the top of the mechanism iri FIG. 1, centrifugal force urges the blades outwardly in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 5. The blade supports mounting the blades on the other hand exert a downward pull on the blades, along the direction of the arrow B in FIG. 5. Since it is only the inner edges of the blade that are interconnected by the hinge, it is the inner edges of the blades that are pulled downwardly, while the outer edges are thrust outwardly. The resuit is a flattening or extending of the blades. After 180 rotation of the blade supports, the action is just the opposite, and the hinged parts of the blades tends to be drawn upwardly with the outer-edges of the blade thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. Under these conditions the blades tend to fall together.

In FIG. 4 a modified form of the invention is illustrated. Here, each propeller blade means comprises a single blade 50 instead of the double blade assembly of the first modification described. Blade 50 is mounted by means of a hinge 52 (which corresponds to hinge means 42) on a bar 4% the same as in the first modification of the invention. Hinge 52 accommodates pivotal movement of the blade about an axis that is perpendicular to the rotation axis of the blade supports, as does hinge means 42 in the first modification of the invention.

Blade 5% is hinged at a point spaced inwardly from margins 50a, 50b. The hinge is located closer to margin 5% than margin 50b. A notch 54 indented inwardly from margin 50a in blade 50 enables the blade to pivot with its margin 50a swinging upwardly toward the viewer in FIG. 4. A stop 56 secured to the blade adjacent margin 5% limits swinging movement in the other direction.

In this modification of the invention, blade 50 oscillates in a manner similar to the oscillation of the blades .in the first modification described. With blade 50 moved in a direction extending away from the viewer in FIG. 4 (or downwardly were the mechanism viewed as in FIG. 1), the force or air moving into the blade is greater on that part disposed to one side of hinge 52 including margin 5%, than that part disposed to one siderof hinge 52 including margin Stla (the first part being larger). Further, as a result of centrifugal force, the outward momentum of that part of the blade including margin 5% is greater than that part of the blade including margin Siia.

Consequently, blade 5%? will move to a horizontal position. With blade 59 moved in a direction extending toward the viewer in FIG. 5 (or upwardly were the mechanism viewed as in FIG. 1) because of centrifugal force and air resistance the blade will shift to a vertical position.

It will be apparent from the above that a novel type of oscillating propelling mechanism is contemplated, operable to produce a thrust in one direction, when the mechanism is rotated over 360. The thrust is a result of the propeller blades pivoting about axes that extend perpendicular to the rotation axis of the mechanism, such pivot axes being parallel to each other in all positions of the mechanism, because of the movement produced by the actuator described. Various forms of blades and mountings may be employed to obtain an operation .substantially as indicated, and it is not intended to be limited to only the specific modifications disclosed.

I claim:

1. Oscillating propeller mechanism comprising a frame,

an elongated driving member journaled on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis, power-operated means connected to the driving member for rotating the driving member,

a pair of laterally spaced propeller blade supports secured to said driving member at points spaced along the longitudinal axis thereof,

an elongated mounting element substantially paralleling and radially spaced from said driving member extending between and mounted adjacent its ends on said blade supports,

a propeller blade,

pivot means mounting said propeller blade on said mounting element with said blade being pivotable about an am's which is perpendicular to said mounting element, and

means connected to said mounting element for rotating the element 360 for every 360 rotation of the propeller blade supports, with the direction of rotation of the mounting element being opposite'to'the direction of rotation of said propeller blade supports.

2. Oscillating propeller mechanism comprising a frame,

an elongated driving member journaled on said frame for rotation about its longitudinal axis,

power-operated means connected to said driving member for rotating the driving member,

a pair of laterally spaced propeller blade supports secured to the driving member at points spaced along the longitudinal axis thereof,

said blade supports having mounting portions equally circumferentially spaced about the longitudinal axis of said driving member,

plural elongated mounting elements paralleling and radially spaced from said driving member mounted on said blade supports with the ends of said elements carried by said mounting portions,

said mounting elements being equally circumferentially spaced about said driving member,

a propeller blade for each mounting element,

pivot means mounting each propeller blade on its associated mounting element with the blade being pivotable about an axis which is perpendicular to its mounting element, and

means connected to each mounting element operable to rotate the element 360 for every 360 rotation of the propeller blade supports, with the direction of rotation of the mounting element being opposite to the direction of rotation of the propeller blade supports.

3. Oscillating propeller mechanism comprising a. frame,

a shaft mounted on said frame,

an elongated tubular sleeve journaled on said shaft,

power-operated means connected to the sleeve for rotating the sleeve,

a pair of laterally spaced propeller blade supports secured to said sleeve at points spaced along the longitudinal axis thereof,

plural elongated substantially parallel mounting bars paralleling said sleeve and radially spaced therefrom distributed equally circumferentially about said sleeve,

said blade supports having mounting portions equally circumferentially distributed about said sleeve and said mounting bars having opposite ends journaled in the mounting portions of said blade supports,

at least one propeller blade for each mounting bar,

pivot means mounting each propeller blade on its mounting bar With the blade being pivotable about an axis which is perpendicular to the mounting bar, and

means connected to said mounting bars for rotating them in unison, and operable to rotate the bars 360 for every 360 rotation of the propeller blade sup ports, with the direction of rotation of the mounting bars being opposite to the direction of rotation of the propeller blade supports. 1

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,921,534 McCrosky Aug. 8, 1933 

1. OSCILLATING PROPELLER MECHANISM COMPRISING A FRAME, AN ELONGATED DRIVING MEMBER JOURNALED ON SAID FRAME FOR ROTATION ABOUT ITS LONGITUDINAL AXIS, POWER-OPERATED MEANS CONNECTED TO THE DRIVING MEMBER FOR ROTATING THE DRIVING MEMBER, A PAIR OF LATERALLY SPACED PROPELLER BLADE SUPPORTS SECURED TO SAID DRIVING MEMBER AT POINTS SPACED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS THEREOF, AN ELONGATED MOUNTING ELEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLELING AND RADIALLY SPACED FROM SAID DRIVING MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND MOUNTED ADJACENT ITS ENDS ON SAID BLADE SUPPORTS, A PROPELLER BLADE, PIVOT MEANS MOUNTING SAID PROPELLER BLADE ON SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT WITH SAID BLADE BEING PIVOTABLE ABOUT AN AXIS WHICH IS PERPENDICULAR TO SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT, AND MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID MOUNTING ELEMENT FOR ROTATING THE ELEMENT 360* FOR EVERY 360* ROTATION OF THE PROPELLER BLADE SUPPORTS, WITH THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE MOUNTING ELEMENT BEING OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF SAID PROPELLER BLADE SUPPORTS. 